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“I think they’re happy,” I answered, watching Kierra console Kiyah, who kept burying her face in her mother’s shirt. I shooedmy kids out of the bedroom to give mom and daughter some privacy.
“I hope I didn’t overstep.”
Kierra’s reddened eyes met mine as she lifted Kiyah into her arms. “This is…Kiyah loves it. The street sign that says Kiyah Street? That’s such a nice touch. I can’t believe you did this. You didn’t have to.”
“I told you that I didn’t want Kiyah to be excluded. She deserves to have her little sanctuary like the rest of them. Plus, it was no big deal. I had plenty of help from Anthony when Simone kicked him out the other day.” It wasn’t until her eyes widened in disbelief that I realized my mistake. “I’m sorry. She didn’t “kick him out” kick him out. He was annoying her, and she told him to, and I quote, ‘Find something to do with yourself today.’ He was instructed to not return until the streetlights came on.”
Kierra laughed, and God, was it beautiful—sweet, light, and rare. Everything about her was beautiful, from her dark brown eyes that narrowed when she smiled due to her cheeks that rose, squishing them together, down to the black painted toenails on her dainty feet.
“I’m not surprised. The man seems like a Stage Five Clinger.”
“Let’s not be too harsh on the man. He’s newly in love again.”
She tilted her head inquisitively as she tried to soothe Kiyah with soft pats on her back. “You’re right. I remember the feeling.”
“Put me down,” Kiyah said forcefully, finally capable of uttering words again. Kierra obliged, and a second later, Kiyah tackled my legs and squeezed me tightly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mr. Jonathan,” she said before jumping onto the pink and black turbo racecar bed. It had everything; a spoiler headboard, wheel accents, and headlights.
“Okay, Kiyah. That’s enough. We don’t jump in beds,” Kierra reprimanded. Kiyah hummed affirmatively, jumped off the bed,landed into a crouched pose akin to a superhero, and zoomed to the racecar track in the corner. She made exaggerated car noises, vibrating her lips as she raced a car around the track.
Kierra caught my attention and nodded in the direction of the hallway. “Kiyah, I’m gonna talk to Mr. Jonathan. Holler if you need me, okay?”
“M’kay,” Kiyah acknowledged before sending a car flying off the track.
I followed Kierra out of the bedroom, knowing where the conversation was heading.
“I—”
“I don’t think of you and your daughter as a charity case, and I don’t want, nor will I accept payment of any kind. Kiyah is happy, and as a parent, I assume that makes you happy, too.”
We were interrupted by an argument regarding the television remote that erupted between Grant and Casey that sounded as if it was about to turn violent. “I must go handle that. Welcome to the family.”
I had reached the top of the stairs when I heard Kierra say, “Thank you, Jonathan.” It was low, nearly a whisper, and I would’ve missed it if I didn’t have the acute hearing I did.
* * *
“Hello?” I whispered into the phone as I maneuvered around sleeping children to exit the media room. The rest of the day sped by as Kierra and Kiyah settled in. We ordered pizzas for dinner and watchedThe Little Mermaidbefore the kids passed out on their bean bag chairs in the media room. I thought about moving them to their beds, but the last thing I wanted to do was deal with four bright-eyed and bushy-tailed children at 10:00 at night.
“How did the move-in day go?” Anthony asked. Iimmediately picked up on his suggestive tone.
“Not how you think it did,” I drawled.
“I’m shocked, considering how hard you were checking Kierra out at the barbecue.”
I sputtered. “I-I was not.”
“You weren’t? Let’s ask the jury. Simone?”
“Don’t ask Simone,” I sighed, knowing she would corroborate his story.
“Dammit, Anthony, I was just falling asleep. What do you want?” Simone mumbled softly.
“Jonathan said he wasn’t checking Kierra out at the barbecue.”
I overheard her tsk in the background. “I can’t believe you interrupted my sleep over a lie,” she complained.
I wasn’t that obvious…was I?
“Both of you are delusional,” I commented, jogging downstairs to perform my nightly security check.
